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More InfoLatest News Around the Web
Americans’ Views Of Mental, Physical Health Reach Lowest Point In Nearly 25 Years, Survey Finds
The Hill (3/13, Timotija ) reports a Gallup survey publishedThursday suggests that “Americans’ views of their mental and physical health are at the lowest point in nearly 25 years, a downturn that accelerated at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued since.” According to the poll, about three-quarters of Americans rated their mental health (at 75 percent) and physical health (at 76 percent) as “excellent” or “good.” But the number of respondents “who described their mental health as ‘excellent’ shrunk to 31 percent. Regarding physical health, those characterizing it as ‘excellent’ went down to 24 percent, Gallup found.” The survey reached a low in 2022, “when the number of Americans who said their mental health rating was ‘excellent’ dropped to 31 percent. The lowest figure for physical health was in 2023 at 24 percent.”
Related Links:
— “Views of mental, physical health lowest in almost 25 years: Gallup,” Filip Timotija, The Hill, March 13, 2025
Childhood Cancer Survivors Have Higher Suicidal Ideation Risk, Analysis Finds
Healio (3/13, Shinkle) reports an analysis found that “childhood cancer survivors in Europe exhibited higher risk for suicidal ideation than the general population.” Researchers analyzed “16 studies that examined suicide…or suicidal ideation.” Results showed “childhood cancer survivors exhibited significantly increased risk for suicidal ideation…but not for suicide…compared with the general European population.” A subgroup analysis “revealed a higher prevalence of suicidal ideation among childhood cancer survivors during active cancer treatment than during the rest of the follow-up period.” Investigators concluded, “Future research could further stratify childhood cancer survivors based on factors such as cancer type, treatment modality and socioeconomic background to provide a more nuanced understanding of suicidality risk.” The analysis was published in JAMA Network Open.
Related Links:
— “Suicidal ideation significantly higher among childhood cancer survivors,” Matthew Shinkle, Healio, March 13, 2025
E-Cigarette Use Linked To Lower Rates Of Smoking Among Young People, Analysis Finds
Healio (3/12, Kellner ) reports a meta-analysis found that “greater e-cigarette accessibility and use appeared to be associated with lower rates of smoking among young people.” A systematic review “of 126 studies evaluating the relationship between e-cigarette use and smoking among people aged 29 years or younger” concluded that “most population-level studies demonstrated that e-cigarette availability led to lower rates of smoking.” In contrast, nearly “all individual-level studies revealed a link between current vaping and future smoking among young people, but the researchers noted it was unclear whether there was a causal relationship.” Overall, the researchers “noted that their conclusions were based on very low certainty evidence and future research could yield different results,” but said the “study findings suggest that vaping may not increase smoking across populations of young people.” Findings from the analysis were published in Addiction.
Related Links:
— “Analysis suggests e-cigarette use may be linked to lower rates of smoking,” Sara Kellner, Healio, March 12, 2025
SAMHSA Staff Could Be Halved By Week’s End
The New York Times (3/12, Hoffman ) reports Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration staff “could be cut by 50 percent” by the end of the week, according to senior staff officials. The federal agency’s “broad mandate includes overseeing 988, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline,” as well as “regulating outpatient clinics that dispense opioid treatment drugs such as methadone” and “directing funds to drug courts.” It also “provides best-practice training and resources for hundreds of nonprofits and state agencies” and acts as a “federal watchdog that closely monitors the spending of taxpayer-funded grants for mental health and addiction.” Rates of US overdose fatalities remain high, but they “have been declining consistently since 2023. Many drug policy experts say SAMHSA is the federal agency most directly responsible.” In interviews, current and former SAMHSA staff warn “the threat posed by layoffs and policy shifts is beginning to be felt at sites everywhere, from the heart of troubled city neighborhoods to rural outposts.”
Related Links:
— “The New York Times (requires login and subscription)
Depressive Symptoms Increasing Among US Teenagers Who Do Not Engage In Risk Behaviors, Data Show
Healio (3/11, Herpen) reports data suggest that “an increase in depressive symptoms was observed among U.S. teenagers without, rather than with, behavioral risk factors, underscoring the need for greater screening in this population.” Results show that “depressive symptoms rose as much or more from 2007 to 2021 among students engaging in few or no risk behaviors as students who did engage in such behaviors, with the trend observed for both boys and girls.” Researchers found that “depressive symptoms increased in high school students from 28.4% in 2007 to 42.3% in 2021,” noting the “largest increases occurred among girls and non-Hispanic white students.” The data were published in The Lancet Regional Health Americas.
Related Links:
— “Depressive symptoms rising faster in US teens who do not engage in risk behaviors,” Robert Herpen, MA, Healio, March 11, 2025
Foundation News
New Radio PSA Examines Rise in Child Suicides
Suicide rates among those under age 25 increased 56% in the last decade and tripled for 10 to 14 year olds. Getting professional help is important for the health of the child.
The Suicide Epidemic Among ChildrenThe Suicide Epidemic Among Children, MP3, 3.2MB
You can listen to the ad using the player in the upper right of the website’s homepage. All past public service spots are also available for listening or to download on our Radio Advertisements page.
Foundation Chosen as Community Partner by Maryland Aviation Administration
The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry was selected by the Maryland Aviation Administration Community Partners Program to display a poster in the terminal at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. It can be found on Concourse C, between Gates C-4 and C-6, on the secure side for the next six months.
New Radio Ad Examines Suicidal Risk in Children
About a third of children who show up in emergency rooms have risk factors for suicide. A new public service ad by the Foundation examines how critical it is to screen adolescents and lists warning signs. Getting professional help is important for the health of the child.
Suicidal Risk in ChildrenSuicidal Risk in Children, MP3, 2.5MB
You can listen to the ad using the player in the upper right of the website’s homepage. All past public service spots are also available for listening or to download on our Radio Advertisements page.
Save the date for This is My Brave 2019!
Join us on Saturday, April 6, 2019 at 4 PM in the Notre Dame of Maryland University’s LeClerc Auditorium for a live presentation of essays, original music, comedy and poetry performed by individuals living with―or loving someone with―a mental health condition. Visit https://thisismybrave.org/event/this-is-my-brave-the-show-baltimore/ for more info.
New Radio Ad Examines Affects of Shootings on Communities
Gun violence affects an entire community’s mental health. A new public service ad by the Foundation explores how shootings traumatize the victim, the witnesses, and family members. Having someone to talk to, particularly a psychiatrist, can help cope.
Shootings and CommunitiesShootings and Communities, MP3, 2.5MB
You can listen to the ad using the player in the upper right of the website’s homepage. All past public service spots are also available for listening or to download on our Radio Advertisements page.